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This Day in History

August 29, 2014, 05:00 AM

In 1533, the last Incan King of Peru, Atahualpa, was executed on orders of Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro.

In 1814, during the War of 1812, Alexandria, Virginia, formally surrendered to British military forces, which occupied the city until Sept. 3.

In 1864, the Democratic National Convention, which nominated Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan for president, opened in Chicago.

In 1877, the second president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Brigham Young, died in Salt Lake City, Utah, at age 76.

In 1910, Korean Emperor Sunjong abdicated as the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty went into effect.

In 1935, the film “Top Hat,” starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, premiered at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

In 1958, pop superstar Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana.

In 1964, Roy Orbison’s single “Oh, Pretty Woman” was released on the Monument label.

In 1972, swimmer Mark Spitz of the United States won the third of his seven gold medals at the Munich Olympics, finishing first in the 200-meter freestyle.

In 1982, Academy Award-winning actress Ingrid Bergman died in London on her 67th birthday.

In 1987, Academy Award-winning actor Lee Marvin died in Tucson, Arizona, at age 63.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast near Buras, Louisiana, bringing floods that devastated New Orleans. More than 1,800 people in the region died.

Ten years ago: Tropical Storm Gaston made landfall in South Carolina at near-hurricane strength. Protesters filling 20 city blocks peacefully swarmed Manhattan’s streets on the eve of the Republican National Convention to demand that President George W. Bush be turned out of office.

A car bomb at the office of a U.S. security contractor in Afghanistan killed about ten people, including three Americans. Closing ceremonies were held in Athens, Greece, for the Olympic games.

Five years ago: Funeral services were held in Boston for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who was eulogized by President Barack Obama; hours later, Kennedy’s remains were buried at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington. Eight people were found beaten to death at a mobile home in Glynn County, Georgia; family member Guy Heinze Jr., who reported finding the bodies, was later convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole. Space shuttle Discovery and seven astronauts blazed into orbit on a flight to the international space station.

One year ago: In a sweeping new policy statement, the Justice Department said it would not stand in the way of states that wanted to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana as long as there were effective controls to keep marijuana away from kids, the black market and federal property. The NFL agreed to pay $765 million to settle lawsuits from thousands of former players who developed dementia or other concussion-related health problems they say were caused by the on-field clashes.